The benefits of a student placement vary greatly depending on who you speak to, to me personally it was just a part of my course, one that I was considering foregoing just so I could graduate sooner.

When I eventually found my placement at Red C I soon realised how vital the experience was, not just academically but also personally. Red C is a company that, as it says, strives to get under the skin of its clients. It’s a bold statement to make but it’s certainly true in every imaginable way, I know from personal experience – trust me!

From being paid to go on a pub crawl to understand the atmosphere of a pub chain, to understanding the needs of a commercial insurance customer by obtaining numerous quotes (I’m a flourishing florist don’t you know?) and plenty of caravan and motorhome research that my friends won’t let me live down!

This dedication to understand every aspect of a clients business, including their customers, is something that sets Red C apart from a lot of the competition. Understanding of this level requires a lot of work and effort, but it’s one that is embraced every time a new client comes in and regularly refined with existing clients.

Not only was this refreshing in terms of my understanding of marketing, but it also allowed me to put into practise everything that I was learning with a passion and a sense of pride. Getting quickly stuck in isn’t everyone’s favourite way of learning, yet from my experience it was the best way.

It’s often said that you can tell a lot about a company by the people that work there and this is certainly the case at Red C, the sense of friendship and genuine concern for each other was apparent from the minute I started. Whether it was amending clients work that I hadn’t booked time for (though this was usually helped with payment of cake) or roping in some extra hands to finish mocking up the latest direct mail pack (or 5).

On the last day of my placement I can safely say that my time here has taught me not only the skills to confidently enter my final year, but also given me the experience of working in an environment that fully embraces the new and challenging.

It’s been fabulous.

Tags: Manchester Advertising Agency, Manchester Digital Agency, Manchester Direct Marketing Agency, Manchester Marketing Agency, Marketing, Marketing Placement, Red C, Student Placement, Under the Skin

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